60 associations seek registration as political parties with INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has received applications from 60 associations seeking to be registered as political parties.

If approved, the number of political parties in the country is expected to shoot up from 40 to 100 parties.

Ironically, it was gathered that less than ten of the present 40 political parties have functional offices at the state or federal level despite being listed on the ballot paper by the commission.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi noted that the commission was already studying the applications and those which meet the required criteria would be approved.

Agreeing that many of the political parties are only active during elections, he said since the law did not put a restriction on the number of political parties that can be registered, it therefore does not have the power to stop the registration of any new political party.

He stressed that at a time the commission attempted to delist nonfunctioning political parties, but was restrained by the court.

On the introduction of ICT in the conduct of elections, Oyekanmi said the commission has already conducted a mock exercise with the Kogi governorship election.